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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. P. COLEMAN. -SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 21, 1897'.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

J. P. COLEMAN. SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 590,301. A Patented Sept. 21,1897.

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(No Model.) 4 S'heetsSheet 4.

J. P.- COLEMAN. SIGNALING APPARATUS;

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UNlTED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN, OF SIVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SIVITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,301, dated September 21, 1897. Application filed May 3,1897. Serial No. 634,827, (No model.)

[ all whom it may concern.- In the practice of my invention the signal- Be it known that 1, JOHN PRESSLEY CoLE- rod 1 has its lower end connected to a bar 2, MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing extending down through suitable guide-openat Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and ings in the plates or platforms 3, which are 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented or disconnected together, formingaframe B, which coveredcertainnewandusefullmprovements is connected to a lever 4 by a link 5. The in Signal Apparatus, of which improvements magnets 6 and 6, the catches 7 and 8, and the following is a specification. the releasing-dogs 9 and 10 are carried by the The invention described herein relates to frame B. The catches 7 and 8 are loosely 10 certain improvements in automatic railwaymounted in suitable bearings on. the under signals. As this class of signals is usually side of the upper plate 3, and the dogs 9 and constructed and operated considerable time 10 are loosely pivoted in suitable bearings on usually elapses between the passage of the the upper side of the lower plate 3. The train off of a track-section and the clearing catch 7 and dog 9 are mounted and arranged [5 of the signal controlling such section. This in such relation to each other that when the lapse of time is objectionable where the traffic dog 9 drops or swings outwardly, as hereinis frequent and trains are running at close inafter described, the toe 9 therein will strike tervals to each other. against the lower end of the catch 7, forcing The object of the present invention is to the latter outwardly, so as to remove the 20 provide asignal and its operating mechanism shoulder 7 thereon from under the pin or so constructed and arranged that the signal projection 2 on the bar 2, thereby permitwill go automatically to danger onthe enting the latter to drop. The catch 8 and dog trance of a train into its section, and while 10 are similarly arranged with relation to each the train is in such section the operating other, so that on the outward swing of the dog 25 mechanism will be so shifted or adjusted that 10 a toe 10 thereon will strike against the the signal will be automatically cleared inlower end'of the catch 8 and force its shoulder stantly upon the passage of the train out of 8 out from under a pin or projection 11 on the section controlled by such signal. the rod 11. This rod 11, which passes through In general terms, the invention consists in the frame B, has its lower end pivotallycon- 0' the construction and combination substannected orattached to the base-plateA or other tially as hereinafter described and claimed. stationary part of the mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a On the upper ends of the dogs 9'an'd 10 are part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view, secured studs 12 and 13, which are adapted partly in section and partly in elevation, of to be engaged by prongs 14 and 15, formed 3 5 -my improved signal-operating mechanism, on one end of the lever 16, which is pivotally the several parts being shown in the position mounted upon the top plate 3 of the frame which they occupy after the signal has gone and has secured thereto the armature 17 of to danger and the operating mechanism the magnets 6 6. These prongs 14: and 15 has been adjusted approximately to a point are provided with hooks and are so con- 40 at which the signal can be cleared by the passtructed that when the magnets 6 6 are ex- Y sage of the train from its section. Fig. 2 is cited and their armatures attracted thereto a similar view showing the parts in the posithe prong 14 will engage the stud 12, and tion they occupy when ready for operation on when the magnets are deenergized and the r the passage of the train from the section. lever 16 shifted by weight or spring the hook 5 Fig. 3 is a like view showing the position of on the prong 15 will engage the stud 13. As 5 the several parts when the signal has been shown in the drawings, the dogs 9 and 10 are cleared; and Fig. at is a side elevation, lookso weighted that when free to move they will ing in the direction of the narrow a, of the drop outwardly and dislodge the catches 7 parts directly controlling the movements of and 8, as hereinbefore described. g

5o the'signal and the circuits therefor. As shown in the drawings, the lever 4 is pivotally mounted upon a standard or support- 18, and one end thereof is connected by a link 19 to the lower end of a weight 20, which is preferably constructed in the form of a piston or plunger arranged within a cylinder 21, which is suspended, as shown, from any suitable support. The upper end of the cylinder is provided with a valved port 22 for the inflow and escape of air, so that the cylinder and weight will together form a cushion for checking the movement of the weight. The weight is raised by means of a cam 23, secured on the shaft 24, which is rotated through any suitable arrangement of gearing by an electric motor 25. The armatureshaft of the motor is provided with a brakedrum 26, and rotation of the armature is checked by the shoes 27, bearing upon the drum. These shoes are secured to arms 28, which are pivotally mounted upon a post or block 29 and are drawn together to force the shoes into contact with the drum by means of a spring 30. The lower ends of the arms 28 are connected to the outer ends of links 31, having their inner ends pivotally connected to one end of a link 32, the. opposite endof which is connected to a lever 33. As will be readily understood, an upward movement of the lever will force the links 31 into line with each other, thereby spreading the arms 28 against the tension of the spring 30. WVhen the lever 33 is forced down, as will be hereinafter described, so that the links 31 will be moved down-out of line with each other, the spring 30 will draw the arms toward each other, pressing the shoe against the brake-drum. On the lever 33 is secured a spring-arm 34, provided with a cam projection 35, said parts being so arranged and constructed that when the parts of'the brake mechanism are in release position, as shown in Figs. 1. and 3, the projection 35 will lie in the path of a pin 36 on the cam 23. WVhen this pin strikes against the cam projection, the lever 33 will be so shifted as to draw the links 31 out of line with each other, permitting the operation of the brake mechanism by the spring 30.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the circuit from the batteryO or other generator to the motor is formed in part by springs 37 37, secured on but insulated from the rod 11 in such manner as to normally stand apart, and also by springs 38 and 38, secured to but insulated from the brake-arms 28. The magnets 6 are also included in a circuit from battery O, a portion of such circuit being formed in part by the armature 39 of the track-relay 40.

In describing the operation of my improved mechanism it will be supposed that the signal is at danger and the parts of the mechanism are in position to clear the signal as soon as the train has passed off the section. On the movement of the train off the section relay 40 will become energized, thereby shifting armature 39, so as to close the circuit through magnet 6. At the energizing of magnet 6 lever 16 will be so shifted as to free projection 13 on dog 10 and to cause prong 14 to engage projection 12 on dog 9. As soon as the projection 13 is freed dog 10 will drop and shift catch 8 out of engagement with the projection 11 on rod 11, thereby permitting the frame to be raised by the dropping of the weight 20, and as the rod 2 is locked to the frame by the catch 7 it will be lifted and clear the signal.

As soon as another train enters on the tracksection the circuit of the magnet 6 will be broken at make-and-break mechanism 39, thereby permitting the armature-lever 16 to .drop, so as to disengage prongs 14 from proj ection 12, thereby releasing dog 9, which will drop outward, tripping the check 7 and permitting the bar 2 to drop and the signal to go to danger. A spring 41 is secured to the dog 9 in such manner that when the dog drops from theposition shown in Fig. 3 the spring 41 will rest upon an arm 42, secured on the standard 18 or other suitable support. A spring-arm 43 is secured to the dog 10 in such manner that when the dog drops to the position shown in Fig. 3 the arm will lie in the path of the lower end of the bar 2, so that when said bar drops it will strike the springarm and force the dog and catch 8 to normal position, where they will be held by the engagement of prong 15 with projection 13, the magnet 6 being deenergized and its armaturelever 16 having been shifted by weight or spring to effect such engagement.

By downward movement of the rod 2 the springs 37 37 are-forced into contact with each other, closing the motor-circuit at that point, and by the downward movement of the weight 20 the lever 33 is so shifted, its outer end being struck by the lever 4 or projection therefrom as to move the links 31 into line with each other, thereby forcing the arms 28 apart and also closing the motor-circuit by the cont-act on the springs 38 and 38, so that on the closing of the circuit-breaker formed by springs 37 and 37 the motor will be set into operation to rotate the cam 23. rotation ofthe cam 23 the weighted end of the lever 4 is raised, thereby drawing down the frame B to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The frame is held in this lowered position with the weight 20 correspondingly lifted by the engagement of the catch 8 on the frame with the projection 11 on the rod 11. The same downward movement of the frame also permits of the engagement of the catch 7 with the pin or projection 2 on the rod 2. By comparison of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 it will be seen that in the downward movement of the frame B the spring 41 strikes against the arm 42, so as to restore the dog 9 to normal position, and will hold it in such position until the magnets 6 are again excited, so that the frame ]3 will be raised in the manner above stated to restore the signal to safety By the ing of springs 44 and 4.4.

011 the passage of a train off the section. The excitation of the magnet 6, which effects in the mannerhereinbefore described the release of the frame B from the rod 11, also effects the locking of the dog 9 in normal position by the engagement of the hook on the prong 14: with the projection 12 on the dog.

As will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the rotation of the cam 23 will be checked by the shifting of spring 34 by the pin 36 on the cam. The movement of this spring 34 so shifts the lever 33 as to draw down the links 31, thereby permitting the spring 30 to operate to apply the brake mechanism and open the motor-circuit by the separation of the springs 38 and 35.

I11 lieu of employing a compound-wound magnet when the motor and the controllingmagnet 6 are arranged in the same circuit or energized by a common generator, as de-' scribed in application, Serial No. 633,621, filed by me April 24, 1897, two magnets 6 and 6, one having a high resistance and the other a low resistance, can be employed, as shown in Fig. 4, but in such case a shunt-circuit is formed around the high-resistance magnet, said shunt including a circuit-breaker controlled by the armature-lever 10 and consist- These springs are so constructed and arranged that the shuntcircuit will not be broken on the first movement of the armature, as the drop of potential in the magnets when both are thrown into circuit might be so great that they would not have sufficient attractive force to cause the shifting of the lever 16. The integrity of the circuit during the preliminary movement of the armature may be maintained by so shaping the spring 44 that it will follow the spring it during a portion of its movement. By this arrangement a drop in electromotive force on the operation of the motor is compensated for. In other words, I employ two magnets the high-resistance magnet for drawing down the armature and the other for assisting in holding down the armature controlling the clearing and setting of the signal to danger.

In order to prevent any accidental application of the brakes during the operation of the motor, I provide a lock for holding the lever in a position where the brakes are released. This lock consists of a disk 45, secured on the shaft 24 and provided with a groove or projecting rib, as shown in dotted lines, having a gap therein which will come into line with a pin 46 on the lever 33 when the latter is shifted to apply the brakes. lVhen the outer end of the lever 33 is forced down by the dropping of the weight 20, as hereinbefore described, the pin 46 will enter the gap, and as the shaft is rotated the rib on the inner face of the disk will pass over the pin on the lever, and thereby hold the same from being shifted until the cam has reached a point when its pin 36 is about to operate upon the spring 34.

iVithin the scope of the invention as defined by the claims are included such modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of parts of the mechanism as will readily suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal havingabias to danger, a weight for shifting the signal to clear position, a separable clutch mechanism connecting the signal and weight, an elect-romagnet for holding the parts of the clutch mechanism in engagement, and means for raising the weight, substantially as set forth.

2. In a signal apparatus, the combination ofasignalhavinga bias to danger,a weight for shifting the signal to clear position, a separable clutch mechanism connecting the signal and weight, an electromagnet for bold ing the parts of the clutch mechanism in engagement, means for raising the weight and an electrically-controlled catch for holding the weight in its raised position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal having a bias to danger, a movable frame provided with a catch adapted to engage the signal-rod, an electrically-controlled dog for shifting said catch, a weight for lifting said frame, and an electricallycontrolled catch for holding the frame when lowered against the lifting action of the weight, substantially as set forth.

4. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal having a bias to danger, a movable frame, a weight for raising said frame, a rod for holding the frame from upward movement by the action of the weight, catches for locking the signal-rod and the holdingrod to the frame and electrically-controlled dogs for shifting said catches, substantially as set forth.

5. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal having a bias to danger, a weight for clearing said signal, an electrically-controlled connection between the signal and weight, an electric motor forv raising the weight, brake mechanism for checking the rotation of the motor, and a lock for preventing an application of the brakes intermediate of the completion of the upward movement of the weight, substantially as set forth.

6. In a signal apparatus, the combination of asignal havinga bias to danger, a weight for clearing said signal, a separable connection between the weight and signal, two magnets one having a low and the other a high resistance for controlling such connection, an electric motor for raising the weight and a generator common to the magnets and motor, substantially as set forth.

IIO

nets one having a low and the other a high resistance for controlling such connection, an electric motor for raising the weight, a generator common to the magnets and motor, a normally open shunt-circuit around the high- 10 resistance magnet, and a circuit-closer operated by the armature of the low-resistance magnet for closing the sh unt-cirouit, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN.

\Vitnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, F. E. GAITHER. 

